This carnal self (nafs) is Hell, and Hell is a dragon (the fire of) which is not diminished by oceans (of water).

هفت دریا را در آشامد هنوز ** کم نگردد سوزش آن خلق سوز

It would drink up the Seven Seas, and still the blazing of that consumer of all creatures would not become less.

سنگها و کافران سنگ دل ** اندر آیند اندر او زار و خجل‌‌

Stones and stony-hearted infidels enter it, miserable and shamefaced,

هم نگردد ساکن از چندین غذا ** تا ز حق آید مر او را این ندا

(But) still it is not appeased by all this food, until there comes to it from God this call—

سیر گشتی سیر گوید نی هنوز ** اینت آتش اینت تابش اینت سوز

“Art thou filled, art thou filled?” It says, “Not yet; lo, here is the fire, here is the glow, here is the burning!”

عالمی را لقمه کرد و در کشید ** معده‌‌اش نعره زنان هل من مزید1380

It made a mouthful of and swallowed a whole world, its belly crying aloud, “Is there any more?”

حق قدم بر وی نهد از لا مکان ** آن گه او ساکن شود از کن فکان‌‌

God, from (the realm) where place is not, sets His foot on it: then it subsides at (the command) Be, and it was.

چون که جزو دوزخ است این نفس ما ** طبع کل دارد همیشه جزوها

Inasmuch as this self of ours is a part of Hell, and the parts always have the nature of the whole,

این قدم حق را بود کاو را کشد ** غیر حق خود کی کمان او کشد

To God (alone) belongs this foot (power) to kill it: who, indeed, but God should draw its bow (vanquish it)?

در کمان ننهند الا تیر راست ** این کمان را باژگون کژ تیرهاست‌‌

Only the straight arrow is put on the bow, (but) this bow (of the self) has (its) arrows bent back and crooked.

راست شو چون تیر و واره از کمان ** کز کمان هر راست بجهد بی‌‌گمان‌‌1385

Be straight, like an arrow, and escape from the bow, for without doubt every straight (arrow) will fly from the bow (to its mark).

چون که واگشتم ز پیکار برون ** روی آوردم به پیکار درون‌‌

When I turned back from the outer warfare, I set my face towards the inner warfare.

قد رجعنا من جهاد الاصغریم ** با نبی اندر جهاد اکبریم‌‌

We have returned from the lesser Jihád, we are engaged along with the Prophet in the greater Jihád.

قوت از حق خواهم و توفیق و لاف ** تا به سوزن بر کنم این کوه قاف‌‌

I pray God to grant me strength and aid and (the right of) boasting, that I may root up with a needle this mountain of Qáf.

سهل شیری دان که صفها بشکند ** شیر آن است آن که خود را بشکند

Deem of small account the lion (champion) who breaks the ranks (of the enemy): the (true) lion is he that breaks (conquers) himself.

آمدن رسول روم تا نزد عمر و دیدن او کرامات عمر را

How the ambassador of Rúm came to the Commander of the Faithful, ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, and witnessed the gifts of grace with which ‘Umar, may God be well-pleased with him, was endowed.

تا عمر آمد ز قیصر یک رسول ** در مدینه از بیابان نغول‌‌1390

To ‘Umar in Medina there came through the wide desert an ambassador from the Emperor of Rúm.

گفت کو قصر خلیفه ای حشم ** تا من اسب و رخت را آن جا کشم‌‌

He said, “O ye attendants, where is the palace of the Caliph, that I may take thither my horse and baggage?”

قوم گفتندش که او را قصر نیست ** مر عمر را قصر، جان روشنی است‌‌

The folk said to him, “He has no palace: ‘Umar's (only) palace is an illumined spirit.